Portland Timbers will look to extend their current unbeaten run to five games when they make the trip to play San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday.
The hosts currently sit bottom of the Major League Soccer Western Conference, having only won three matches throughout the season.
Match preview
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It has been a difficult season so far for the Earthquakes, having won just three matches, and the team currently sits bottom of the Western Conference with a lot of work to do for the remainder of the season.
One victory could change that, though, as they sit just three points behind Sporting Kansas City, but they will need to drastically improve their performances.
The Earthquakes have conceded nine goals in their last two matches, with no team letting in more throughout the entire season in the Western Conference.
It is an area for Luchi Gonzalez to work on moving forward, but they have been much stronger at home than on the road, which should give a little belief for this match.
The Earthquakes did take a 2-1 lead against FC Cincinnati during their last outing, but they were unable to hang onto that as they conceded three goals in the space of 10 minutes towards the end of the game.
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Portland will look to take advantage of that in midweek, especially due to the positive run of form that the team have put together in recent weeks.
While they were held to a goalless draw against St Louis City, the Timbers are undefeated in their previous four matches which has put a lot of confidence together for them.
That has also allowed Portland to start climbing up the league table, currently sitting in 10th place, with the recent consistency being exactly what they needed.
It is something Portland struggled with at the start of the season, but putting a run of results together has made a positive impact, and a win could move them into seventh this week.
While they have been slightly weaker on the road in this campaign, that is something they have been working on lately to change, which is why the team heads into this with lots of belief.
Team News
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Cristian Espinoza will be hoping to find the back of the net once again in this match, after getting on the scoresheet during their most recent outing, scoring his third of the season.
The hosts are dealing without Daniel and Jamar Ricketts at the moment, while Bruno Valdez is also a concern at the moment.
Diego Chara will be able to return for the visitors after his recent suspension, opening up the possibility of a change to the starting lineup.
But they will be missing Maxime Crepeau and Kamal Miller due to international duty, while Miguel Araujo is also in the same situation.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Marie, Valdez, Rodrigues, Beason; Tsakiris, Yueill; Pellegrino, Lopez, Espinoza; Ebobisse
Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Mosquera, Zuparic, McGraw, Bravo; Williamson, Paredes; Moreno, Evander, Rodriguez; Antony
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 0-2 Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers have been consistent recently, putting together some fantastic results that have allowed them to climb up the league table.
Considering the hosts are sat bottom of the league currently, it will be expected that the visitors should take all three points.
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